Resisting Satan: Strengthening Faith Through Suffering

Devotional

Day 1: Satan's Strategy Through Suffering

Satan seeks to undermine the faith of Christians by using suffering as a tool to make them doubt God's goodness and power. This strategy is not just about causing physical harm but is aimed at eroding trust in God. The sufferings Christians face are real and varied, and Satan works tirelessly to use these hardships to turn believers away from God. However, it is crucial to remember that God uses these trials to test and strengthen faith, as seen in 1 Peter 1:6-7. By understanding this, Christians can find purpose in their suffering and resist the temptation to doubt God's character. [02:29]

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Think of a recent trial you have faced. How can you see God's hand in using this experience to strengthen your faith?

Day 2: The Dual Role of Suffering

While Satan intends suffering to destroy faith, God uses it to purify and strengthen believers. This dual role is evident in Paul's experience with the thorn in the flesh, where God's purpose was to keep Paul humble, despite Satan's intentions. Suffering can be a tool for spiritual growth, teaching humility and dependence on God. By recognizing this, Christians can embrace their trials as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles to faith. [08:04]

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (ESV): "So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"

Reflection: Identify a personal struggle that has humbled you. How can you rely on God's grace to find strength in this weakness today?

Day 3: Satan's Influence in Persecution

Satan can instigate persecution, manipulating circumstances to cause suffering for believers. This is seen in Revelation 2:10, where he throws believers into prison, and in how he influenced Judas to betray Jesus. Despite these actions, God remains sovereign, and persecution can serve to strengthen the resolve and faith of Christians. Understanding Satan's influence in persecution helps believers to remain steadfast and trust in God's ultimate plan. [09:07]

Revelation 2:10 (ESV): "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt persecuted for your faith. How can you prepare your heart to remain faithful in the face of future challenges?

Day 4: God's Sovereignty Over Satan

Despite Satan's power, he operates under God's sovereignty and acts only by permission. This is demonstrated in the story of Job and Jesus' authority over demons. Knowing that God is in control provides assurance and confidence to resist Satan's temptations. Believers can trust that God has a purpose for allowing trials and that He will ultimately bring about good from them. [10:55]

Job 1:12 (ESV): "And the Lord said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.' So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord."

Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you felt out of control. How can you trust in God's sovereignty and find peace in His ultimate authority?

Day 5: The Call to Vigilance and Resistance

Christians are urged to be sober-minded and watchful, resisting Satan by standing firm in their faith. By using the Word of God, believers can counter Satan's lies and let their sufferings refine their faith, not destroy it. This call to vigilance requires an active engagement with Scripture and a commitment to spiritual growth, ensuring that faith remains strong in the face of adversity. [11:28]

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV): "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to be more vigilant in your spiritual life and resist the temptations that threaten your faith?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the nature of Satan's influence on Christians, particularly through the lens of suffering. While we often focus on what Satan cannot do to us due to Christ's victory, it's crucial to understand the ways he attempts to undermine our faith. First Peter 5:8-9 warns us of Satan's prowling nature, likening him to a roaring lion seeking to devour believers. This devouring is not merely about physical harm but is aimed at eroding our faith through suffering. The sufferings mentioned are real and varied, experienced by Christians worldwide, with Satan working tirelessly to use these hardships to turn us away from God.

Satan's strategy is to make us doubt God's goodness, wisdom, and care, especially during trials. He aims to deceive us into believing that God is against us or powerless to help us. However, it's essential to recognize that not all of Satan's attacks are through suffering; he also uses pleasures to lure us away from faith. Yet, the sufferings he orchestrates are particularly insidious because they can lead us to question God's character.

We explored several ways Satan brings about suffering. He can be behind sickness, as seen in the story of the woman bound for 18 years, and in Paul's thorn in the flesh, which was a messenger of Satan. Despite Satan's intentions, God uses these trials to strengthen our faith and humility. Satan also instigates persecution, as seen in Revelation 2:10, where he throws believers into prison. This is akin to how he influenced Judas to betray Jesus, leading to His crucifixion.

Ultimately, while Satan is powerful, he is not sovereign. God remains in control, allowing Satan's actions only within His divine purposes. Therefore, we are called to be vigilant, resist Satan's temptations, and stand firm in our faith. By wielding the Word of God, we can counter Satan's lies and let our sufferings refine and fortify our faith rather than destroy it.

Key Takeaways

1. 7. [02:29]
2. The Dual Role of Suffering: While Satan intends suffering to destroy our faith, God uses it to purify and strengthen us. This dual role is evident in Paul's experience with the thorn in the flesh, where God's purpose was to keep Paul humble, despite Satan's intentions.

3. Satan's Influence in Persecution: Satan can instigate persecution, as seen in Revelation 2:10, where he throws believers into prison. This mirrors how he influenced Judas to betray Jesus, showing that Satan can manipulate circumstances to cause suffering.

4. God's Sovereignty Over Satan: Despite Satan's power, he operates under God's sovereignty. He acts only by permission, as demonstrated in the story of Job and Jesus' authority over demons. This assurance allows us to resist Satan with confidence in God's ultimate control.

5. The Call to Vigilance and Resistance: We are urged to be sober-minded and watchful, resisting Satan by standing firm in our faith. By using the Word of God, we can counter Satan's lies and let our sufferings refine our faith, not destroy it.

** [02:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Understanding Satan's Limitations
[00:44] - The Nature of Satan's Devouring
[01:35] - Interpreting Sufferings in 1 Peter
[02:29] - Satan's Aim in Christian Suffering
[03:39] - Temptations Beyond Suffering
[04:56] - How Satan Opposes Through Suffering
[06:02] - Satan's Role in Sickness
[06:49] - Paul's Thorn in the Flesh
[08:36] - Satan's Influence in Persecution
[09:25] - The Betrayal of Jesus
[10:18] - The Roar of the Lion
[10:55] - God's Sovereignty Over Satan
[11:28] - The Call to Resist
[12:17] - Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 Peter 5:8-9
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Revelation 2:10

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Observation Questions:

According to 1 Peter 5:8-9, how is Satan described, and what is his intention towards believers? [01:35]
In 2 Corinthians 12:7, what purpose does Paul say the "thorn in the flesh" serves, and who is behind it? [06:49]
How does Revelation 2:10 describe the role of Satan in the persecution of believers? [08:36]

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Interpretation Questions:

What does it mean for Satan to "devour" Christians through suffering, and how does this align with God's purpose for trials? [02:29]
How can the dual role of suffering, as both a tool of Satan and a means of God's sanctification, be understood in the context of Paul's thorn in the flesh? [08:04]
In what ways does the sovereignty of God over Satan provide assurance to believers facing trials and temptations? [10:55]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent trial or suffering you have faced. How did it affect your perception of God's goodness and power? How can you use this experience to strengthen your faith? [05:34]
Consider a time when you felt tempted by pleasures rather than suffering. How did you respond, and what can you learn from that experience to resist future temptations? [03:18]
How can you remain vigilant and resist Satan's attempts to undermine your faith, especially during difficult times? What practical steps can you take to stand firm in your faith? [11:28]
Identify a specific area in your life where you feel vulnerable to Satan's influence. What scripture or promise from God can you hold onto to counteract this vulnerability? [11:43]
How can you support fellow believers who are experiencing suffering or persecution, and what role does community play in resisting Satan's attacks? [01:52]
Reflect on the concept of God's sovereignty over Satan. How does this understanding impact your daily walk with Christ, especially when facing challenges? [10:55]
Think of a person in your life who is currently going through a difficult time. How can you encourage them to see their suffering as a means of strengthening their faith rather than a tool of destruction? [08:25]

Sermon Clips

Peter is referring to real sufferings of various kinds that Christians are experiencing throughout the world and Satan is behind them, making every effort to use those sufferings to destroy the faith of Christians. That's what seeking to devour means. He would succeed in devouring a Christian if he could use those sufferings to cause us to throw away our faith in the goodness and the wisdom and the care of God and turn us against God. [00:02:18]

Satan is behind much though not all sickness, for example after Jesus heals the woman bent over for 18 years he defends his action to the rulers by saying, ought not this woman a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for 18 years be loosed from this Bond on the Sabbath day. In other words Satan is behind this disease this bad condition that this woman is in for 18 years. [00:06:04]

We see an example of this in the lives of Christians in second Corinthians chapter 12 verse 7 where Paul had been given those amazing Visions remember and Paul explains how God designed planned to keep him from getting conceited by these Visions here's verse 7 of second Corinthians 12. so to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given to me in the flesh a messenger of Satan to harass me to keep me from being conceited. [00:06:39]

This is especially important because here we have both the activity of God and the activity of Satan we know that Satan did not aim at preventing Paul's Pride he wants Paul to be conceited he wants to destroy his faith with pride saving Paul from conceit was God's purpose. God aimed to keep Paul humble and holy and yet the instrument of God's sanctifying work is called a messenger of Satan. [00:07:24]

Even when Satan is bringing about some kind of thorn or suffering in the life of a Christian he's not sovereign, he's not ultimate he's under God's supervision and while Satan's design is the destruction of Paul's Faith God's design is the strengthening of Paul's faith and the preservation of his Holiness and his humility. [00:08:08]

He sometimes throws them into prison, Revelation 2 10, do not fear what you are about to suffer behold the devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested and for 10 days you will have tribulation be faithful unto death and I will give you the Crown of Life. [00:08:36]

We can assume that sort of thing happens regularly to cause Christians much suffering, Satan puts it in the heart of people to betray Christians or to lie about Christians so bring them into suffering whether prison or some other consequence. [00:10:00]

The Lions Roar is the Roar of Satan's effort to strike fear into Christians by the suffering he brings into their lives he aims for that fear to destroy their faith we know from second Corinthians 12 and from the story of Job 1 and from the fact that Jesus commands demons and they obey him that Satan is not sovereign, God is. [00:10:18]

Wherever Satan is acting, he's acting by permission, not because he has ultimate control nevertheless he's real oh he is real he is strong he's evil, he's on a Long Leash under God's Providence he does terrible damage. [00:10:55]

Peter does not say ho-hum, God is sovereign, he says be sober, Be watchful resist resist, firm in your faith fight, that is take up the sword of the spirit the word of God and stick Satan in face with it, believe God's promise and stand your ground. [00:11:28]

Do not be sucked into Satan's Temptation that God is evil or that God is weak, let the fires of suffering purify and strengthen your faith not destroy it, stick Satan in the face with the word. [00:11:50]

Thank you master John and thank you for joining us today we're going to break for the weekend now and when the weekend is over we will get back to work and uh back to work thinking about work and how we can be most fruitful by leaning on good administrative structures uh we've never talked about this angle of leadership in the podcast we should it should be interesting how do we build the structures in place that we need so that we can maximize our fruitfulness to our calling in the world uh that question is relevant for Ministries relevant for Christian Business Leaders as well and it's on the table I'm your host Tony Reinke we'll see you then on Monday. [00:12:17]

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Resisting Satan: Strengthening Faith Through Suffering

Devotional

Day 1: Satan's Strategy Through Suffering

Day 2: The Dual Role of Suffering

Day 3: Satan's Influence in Persecution

Day 4: God's Sovereignty Over Satan

Day 5: The Call to Vigilance and Resistance

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Resisting Satan: Strengthening Faith Through Suffering

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